Retraining Tax Credit

Staff from the Office of Economic Development Services work with existing industries located in the counties served by Athens Technical College to establish eligibility for retraining tax credits from the State of Georgia. The objective of the retraining tax credit program is to foster the profitability and competitiveness of Georgia's existing industry by encouraging workforce development through retraining tax incentives. The State of Georgia will grant tax credits to eligible business enterprises that equal up to one half of the direct costs of retraining. Eligible business enterprises qualify for a maximum tax credit of $500 per full-time employee per year for each approved retraining program, up to $1,250 per employer per year.

To be eligible for tax credits, training programs must provide improved job skills for employees unable to function effectively on the job due to skill deficiencies or because they would otherwise be displaced because such skill deficiencies would inhibit their utilization of new technology. New technology includes the implementation of new equipment and/or new customized operating systems and software, workplace re-engineering, total quality management, ISO systems implementation, and employee involvement programs. The vice president for economic development coordinates the assistance to a company interested in claiming the retraining tax credit. The vice president is also responsible for determining if programs are eligible for a tax credit and for approving the required forms.